Court convicts 38 in Paris corruption scandal

A Paris court convicted 38 people yesterday in a financing scandal centred on Paris city hall from 1987 to 1993, when Jacques Chirac was mayor.

The court handed out suspended prison sentences of two months to two years and fines of up to €100,000 (£69,758). Among those convicted were four former senior officials in the Paris public housing agency.

Investigators believe that about 20 public works companies paid more than €5.7m (£3m) from 1991 to 1994 to Jean-Claude Mery, an official in Mr Chirac's party at the time, who claimed the president was aware of the scheme.